Last week, I met Victor Sapar, my IT expert friend, for a couple of projects for their organization. When I went down from the top of GSIS Subdivision (the place is sitting on an elevated location of Davao City), I started clicking my shutter. The scorching heat of the noon time sun did not deter me from taking photos. The building (first photo) is the Government Social Insurance Service (GSIS). Did I write it correctly? The trafficless road is McArthur Highway, I guess, or Matina? Nah, I am not sure :-). Probably, MacArthur as named after the famous US general who uttered the "I shall return..."
Then I passed by the newly-opened Bankerohan Bridge and had the opportunity to snap at the Davao River that empties to the Davao Gulf. Note the houses along the riverbanks. The murky water represents the massive siltation it suffers. Fishkills also happened here that many blamed to the agricultural activities upstreams. Investigations were conducted but no one was ever made to answer the environmental crimes that repeatedly occurred.
This is the old building of the Rizal Memorial Colleges. I think it already moved to the new location I missed to know. The next photo is the section of the foot of the J. P. Laureal Avenue Overpass I mentioned earlier in this blog. When commuting, I would disembark here to wait a PUJ going to Buhangin - Panacan route. It casts a cool shadow especially during high noon. Ok, I explain. When going to our home place, there are two routes to take - the longest one and the shortest route. Buhangin-Panacan is the shortest way. However, there are times that I would prefer to take the longest trip where I can spend much time to reflect :-).
Was on a brief meeting yesterday when I saw this bug parking at the roadside along Bonifacio Steet, Davao City. Nice Red Beetle. Perhaps, I will take similar photos on beetles in the city to show that Davaoeños love the Volkswagen Beetles.
After my job contract ended recently, fieldwork drastically shifted to the city landscape. I worked with various non-government organizations in the past and among my tasks and functions then brought me to the various areas in Mindanao. Years, later I was able to work in a consulting office for a government project where I had the opportunity to travel to its areas. Now that I am free as a bird, I would go to downtown to meet clients like I did yesterday. As I went, I took photos for my blog. These I share with you.
Davaoeños know this familiar junction in P. Reyes and Bonifacio Streets. I just came out from the Philippine National Bank (PNB) situated right where I stood to take this photo. The traffic enforcer was on the alert monitoring the flow of traffic that noon.
This was a take of one of the avenues of the city - Claro M. Recto Avenue which used to be called as Claveria. If I remember it correctly, C. M. Recto was looked up as one of the best political figures in the country. He was a famous nationalist stateman while "Claveria" was taken from the Spanish governor-general Narciso Claveria during the Spanish control. But what sticks to my mind was the anecdote about this place. The joke goes this way: A cross-eyed jeepney driver upon seeing a thin commuter shouts "Klabira2x!" (human skeleton). Not to be outwitted, the commuter would loudly ask for the destination of the jeepney, "bolibat?!" (Boulevard or Quezon Boulevard). A vernacular, "libat" means cross-eyed.
Almost 12 noon, I walked-though this street to the meeting place. This is Bonifacio Street with Bolton Street to the right where you can see people walking through the pedestrian lane. Many of our streets here got their names from American occupants like Bolton Street which was named from Lt. Edward Bolton (governor of Davao in 1906).
Can you see that? That's Jaltan - one of the restos offering native delicacies like Bibingka (rice cake), Kutsinta, Suman, etc. Here my friend was waiting fro me to discuss with me their newspaper. Jaltan is a business of the family of my friend who would hire me to draw a large editorial cartoon (using chalk) right on the wallnews called Budyong during college days.
This is the section of one of the overpasses of Davao City. I remember that during its construction stage, I commented in one cartoon strip I drew that it would ease up the traffic jam in the city when all the vehicles passing though here would not enter the city. This connects J. P. Laureal Avenue and Dakudao to Buhangin to the Diversion Road a.k.a. Philippine - American Friendship Road (?).
If there are no vehicular accidents, traffic here is more often smooth. This is one of the main thoroughfares of Davao - J. P. Laurel Avenue.
That's the Pryce Tower. Their imposing tower. Isn't it? Ok, not if compared to the skycrapers in other cities in the world.
I forgot the name of this glass building along J. P. Laurel Avenue. But this is just near to the Pryce Tower or situated by the entrance to the Pryce Tower. Soon I will go back to Pryce Tower to pay for my loan with PAGIBIG.
There are still trees in the city like this one. They are cool to the eyes. The only thing is that we need to closely monitor the status of these trees (usually old ones) because there were already accidents of branches falling on hapless vehicles in the past. The local governemnt had to demolish some really old trees for the safety of the motorists. I should have focused on the tree I am talking about and not the facade of the new Philippine Long Distance Telephone office along P. Reyes Street. Next time.
My dear darling willingly poses with the bug. She loves to talk about volkswagen beetles and easily gets inspired when she sees other bugs on the road. If I have my chance, I will try to take photos of bugs that I would meet here in the city. I have seen lots of them and I have friends with volkswagen beetles as service cars. Many of them are already jazzed up. Mine is still needing new paint, etc. With the current crisis now, I don't think we need to jazzup our bug. Not yet.
It was in 1983 when I first settled in Davao City - 23 kms from my original place of Bunawan - when in the middle of my secondary schooling I moved here and lived with my uncle in a boarding house somewhere along Sobrecary Street. I was not stranger to the city though because for a number of times in the past we would go here to shop. To us kids then, Davao was like heaven. Our hearts would be elated to hear that we would be going to Davao. At times, I would shed a bucket of tears if Mama decided not to bring me along. I love Davao for a number of reasons.
But one, it was here that I met my pretty wife Gemma. (By the way, this is a view of Davao City Hall). Since 1983, I never left Davao as my residence. Everything is seemingly in order yet :-). Your are right Nanay Belen, Davao City is nice to live. No smog here. Right here, this is a section of Bankerohan - Matina Road where traffic jam usually occurs during rush hours.
I can always adopt myself to other places. But I don't know if I am ready to go to other places other than Davao City where life is easier. Although there are instances for traffic jams, the city is more or less far from such bumper-to-bumper situation. Well, if you ask me I would rather not drive downtown during weekdays. I have long patience but I don't venture into getting myself caught up in the middle of honking cars. Five star accommodation? Some visiting friends, opt for The Marco Polo. Free ad. LOL. Pay me, pay me!
Next photo I took from Quirino Avenue. I missed to know the imposing building but I know this is near to the Davao Doctors Hospital.
What am I doing? A photo blog? Maybe. LOL. This one is a portion of Roxas Boulevard where I usally waits for a Public Utility Jeep when I'm not driving. From here to our place, the fare varies from Php15 to Php18. Depending on the mathematics of the "conductor" or the driver. But I think, the fare from here to our place is probably Php21. I still have to see the fare matrix that PUJs place where it is easily seen by the passengers. There are commuters who would argue with the drivers or the conductors as to the "exact fare." The fare matrix issued by the Land Transportation Office resolves that usual and useless argument. In my case, I would prefer not to argue with PUJs that "charge much" fare knowing well that they have the matrix or even without it the price of fuel is simply onerous to them. There were occasions also that I was "under-charged" in exchange for so-called "over-charges" I willingly gave. That's life. Somewhere, there is always blessing talking about "give and take."
The next photo is a view of San Pedro. Another commercial center of the city. There are no skycrapers in the city. I cannot answer your questions why. I don't know why the investors are not putting skyhigh buildings in the heart of the city. Maybe not yet.
This last photo is the worm's eyeview of the Legislative Hall of the Davao City where well-meaning ordinances and resolutions were crafted by our city councilors. And absurdities too you can see in this august body. LOL. Talking about well-meaning ordinances, I am talking about the Anti-smoking Ordinance and the Davao City Women and Children Development Code (did I say it right?). The former prohibits smoking in public places while the latter disallows bikini shows in the city. I think one of the bars here is recently in hotwaters when, in the pretext of doing a marketing strat, staged a bikini show. Local law enforcers did not let it pass when they filed proper charges to the bar owner and manager. For the anti-smoke belching.. er... anti-smoking, a number of recalcitrant smokers were already charged after they were caught puffing cigarettes in public places.
Admittedly, we are now at least in the crossroads - considering of replacing our two rides with only one service car knowing that we don't need two cars especially now that the price of fuel keeps on increasing. But we can't seem to agree what to keep and whhic one is for sale. We have special liking for the volkswagen beetle for its sheer simplicity while I have strong liking also for the jiffy - the first service vehicle we bought. Indeed, we are torn between two lovers, so to speak. But there is also a suicidal tendency in our discussion to sell both and buy another model (second-hand) that can accommodate us all. We have three growing kids who feel that the bug has its downside -- it has no more extra room for them. and my heart bleeds because we love so much the volks :-(.
meantime, we are looking for a second-hand car that might catch our liking while working on the decision what to do. I always go for low and easy maintenance which I have found in volkswagen and jiffy. I don't know yet if we can find a second-hand model that fits to our basic requirement- one that can carry us from point " a"to point "b" .
Ehem. This is my exgf. She is fast learner when it comes to driving that she applies in our subdivision's bumpy and dirt road. If she gets the student's permit soon, she will try the highway with me as her willing driving instructor.
I am not the best guitar player but I know I can rise above pure simplicity or mediocrity. I started when I was first year highschool the same level that my eldest daughter Cooky - who is a majorette in their school now - expressed interest in strumming the guitar in addition to her improved keyboard and recorder (flute to you) playing.
I advised her to choose first a song with simple chords for her regular practice before exploring other songs with "complex" chords combination. Simple chords mean E major/minor, D major/minor, A major/minor, etc. If memory serves me right, I was stuck for a year playing the same song over and over again before - ad nauseam (LOL) - before exploring other pieces with ease. I admitted that I didn't have a gift for this instrument although I can really play almost like a pro. I was a choirmember before and then I tried to play two more musical instruments - bandoria and banjo loud.
We bought chord guide and songmags for her to practice with. As far as voice quality is concerned, my daughter (like her two siblings) is a promising songbelter whose genes she might have inherited from her Mama. She can sing well but she needs professional advice who can possibly bring out all the best in her. You ask about my voice quality? I could not even outwit a duck even in a rigged singing contest so I decided to focus on visual arts. I don't have future with singing cum playing the guitar or other instrument but when I need a break from some project work at home, I would simply grab the guitar and play my fave songs.
The other night, my second year highschool eldest worked on her jog - a form of punishment their teacher imposed on her group for their failure to collectively clean their room. She vouched that she did her part but she was nevertheless implicated as it was supposedly a group performance. I did not pay attention to what she was doing or how many lines of jog they had to write as my memory slowly reverted back to my high school days in Holy Cross of Davao College. I could not forget my social studies teacher Mr. Misola for his unique punishment. When we broke rules he would give us a jog which read "It is the thing you left undone under the heat of the sun which gives you a bit of heartache."
Depending on the gravity of our "sins," we would write that phrase a number of times. It was a wonder though that we did not end up having severe arthritis in our fingers. I might have hated him for that jog but I believe that Mr. Misola did wonderful thing in my life when he succeeded in inculcating values in me to become a responsible person.
Don't wonder if I posted scams here. I want to get back at these scammers. One of the cellphone scams now, after those so-called lotteries or sweeptakes, is cellphone scam. Many times I received this line from 09167128555 "d2 ka magreply load mo ako 150pesos (reply here, give me load Php150)" or this line "wala na akong load may sasabihin ako saiyo d2 ka reply or load mo ako 150pesos (i ran out of load i have something to tell you reply here or give me a Php150 load)." Yesterday, my ex-girl friend received this trap. So the next time you receive such kind of message, be careful or you are being conned.
Kutsinta smoothered with dessicated coco meats and hot coffee - a perfect combination I enjoyed this morning. Before the series of oil price increases, a piece of Kutsinta (made from corn starch, I guess) cost Php1.00. Now, Kutsinta comes in package at Php5.00 for 4 pieces. One piece down :-).
A snapshot of my email shows a scam emailed to me from supposed NI Online Promo. I posted earlier same scams. Here, it informed me that I won a hefty one million Euro from Netherland. Imagine? I did not even join any raffle promo or whatever. Whew! Read on:From: "Nl Online Promo"
To: info@winner.co.nl
Subject: File Your Claim
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 11:12:52-0400
Attn: We are please to inform You that you just won the sum of 1,000,000 EURO, form our netherland NATIONAL LOTTERY 2008. Fill the details: Full Name,Country,Tel,Occupation: Email:nll3458745676@googlemail.com
The fact that these scammers are still around indicates that they have continued to victimize people. Watch out!
Last week, I met Victor Sapar, my IT expert friend, for a couple of projects for their organization. When I went down from the top of GSIS Subdivision (the place is sitting on an elevated location of Davao City), I started clicking my shutter. The scorching heat of the noon time sun did not deter me from taking photos. The building (first photo) is the Government Social Insurance Service (GSIS). Did I write it correctly? The trafficless road is McArthur Highway, I guess, or Matina? Nah, I am not sure :-). Probably, MacArthur as named after the famous US general who uttered the "I shall return..." 
Then I passed by the newly-opened Bankerohan Bridge and had the opportunity to snap at the Davao River that empties to the Davao Gulf. Note the houses along the riverbanks. The murky water represents the massive siltation it suffers. Fishkills also happened here that many blamed to the agricultural activities upstreams. Investigations were conducted but no one was ever made to answer the environmental crimes that repeatedly occurred. 
This is the old building of the Rizal Memorial Colleges. I think it already moved to the new location I missed to know. The next photo is the section of the foot of the J. P. Laureal Avenue Overpass I mentioned earlier in this blog. When commuting, I would disembark here to wait a PUJ going to Buhangin - Panacan route. It casts a cool shadow especially during high noon. Ok, I explain. When going to our home place, there are two routes to take - the longest one and the shortest route. Buhangin-Panacan is the shortest way. However, there are times that I would prefer to take the longest trip where I can spend much time to reflect :-).
